Pay per view: Avoid encoder traps to ensure coding compliance
APCs Weekly Monitor, July 25, 2008
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to APCs Weekly Monitor!
Run your software: don?t let it run you
Encoders are quickly becoming some of the most valuable coding resources, but software is just one tool to accurate code assignment. Overreliance on it can hinder?not help?compliant coding.
What is an encoder?
An encoder is a computer application that generates ICD-9 and/or CPT codes. The encoder bases its code selection on clinical documentation that practitioners provide and that qualified health information management professionals, such as coders, enter into the system.
There are two different encoder approaches, both of which prompt a coder to begin by entering a keyword or a code:
- Logic-based?the keyword entry generates a series of prompts or questions that end with a suggested code
- Dictionary-driven?the keyword entry brings up a menu of codes from which a coder can choose
Click here to learn more about how to properly use encoders. JustCoding.com subscribers have free access to this article in the July 16th issue via their online subscriptions.
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to APCs Weekly Monitor!
Comments
0 comments on “Pay per view: Avoid encoder traps to ensure coding compliance ”
Related Products
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- Q/A: Volume requirement for reporting hydration services
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Catch up on what's new with injections and infusions
- Identify potential Medicaid RAC target areas
- HIPAA Q&A: Level of encryption needed for email
- Topic: CMS, OESS post new security compliance review information, checklist
- Capturing all necessary codes for IUD insertion and removal can be challenging
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- OB services: Coding inside and outside of the package
- QA:Coding multiple initial infusions
- E-mailed
-
- Q/A: Volume requirement for reporting hydration services
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- HIPAA Q&A: Level of encryption needed for email
- Q&A: Follow CMS' coding guidelines when using modifier -25
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- Catch up on what's new with injections and infusions
- CMS has reformulated payments for some bilateral procedures
- New conflicts of interest create new challenges
- Q/A. One injection code or two?
- ED-to-inpatient transfers are flawed with safety gaps
- Searched